A three-row SUV should be true to the core values of being a Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle. Notably, it needs to have a spacious interior, flexible seating for more than five passengers, and be suitable for both daily driving and longer travel excursions. If you add luxurious accommodations and premium technology to the mix, as in the 2025 Infiniti QX80 Autograph that we tested in the middle of a New England winter, then you’ve created a vehicle that not only meets the criteria but also has set itself out to get a lot of attention.
We didn’t expect the QX80 to be a fuel economy leader with its 3.5L V6 Twin Turbo engine, and it wasn’t. But it will get you up and going quickly behind the 450 horsepower and 516 lb. ft. of torque that its powerplant produces. Besides, the more than one-hundred grand a buyer will invest in the Autograph edition of this meticulously crafted machine is not likely intended to impress the neighbors with one’s thriftiness. However, that kind of moolah is good for a queen’s dowry worth of niceties in the QX80.
As a sampler, let’s start with the heated, ventilated, and massaging first and second row seating with heated third row seats. Already, you can see this is no ordinary set of features. And we haven’t even gotten to the 24-speaker Klipsch® Reference Premiere audio system with individual audio control, or the tri-zone advanced climate control system with air purifier and biometric cooling.
Anyway, you could sacrifice and get into the base QX80 Pure edition for about $85.5K, but if you aim for the top, Infiniti has set the starting MSRP for the well-heeled QX80 Autograph that we drove at $110,595.
For a closer look at the features go to the Infiniti QX80 spec page. Meanwhile, enjoy these pics from our weeklong test drive of the QX80 Autograph.
Some Key Things To See & Do At This Historic Event
by Peter Ciani
For car guys, the first sign of spring isn’t the budding trees or the hummingbirds returning to the Northeast — no, for us, it’s the opening of the New York International Auto Show this weekend at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City. The timing of the NYIAS hits right. The weather is finally warming up and making traveling to and around New York City much more enjoyable. It also helps you appreciate the open-top Jeep Wranglers at the show’s Camp Jeep display.
For 2025, the New York Auto Show celebrates its 125th anniversary. The first New York Automobile Show — sponsored at the time by the Automobile Club of America — made its debut at the original Madison Square Garden in November of 1900. A crowd of 48,000 attendees turned up to check out the latest and greatest automobiles from 34 carmakers, showcasing some 160 vehicles in all.
As much as show organizers have worked to keep the spirit of the auto show alive over the years, these days, not as many manufacturers turn out. It would be great to see more automakers return to the event that helped promote them for so long. There were notable absences from brands like Cadillac and Mazda, and scaled-down displays from luxury names such as Audi and Mercedes. It was nice to see them represented, but the show is missing something without the grand displays and new model premieres we used to look forward to.
That said, several brands that were on hand didn’t disappoint. While Nissan, Ford, and Chevrolet didn’t debut any new models, they still put on impressive displays. The same goes for Kia, Hyundai, and, of course, Subaru.
Subaru’s forest theme brilliantly conveys the spirit of the brand, and as usual, they made space for their ‘Subaru Loves Pets’ adoption area. Every year, Subaru partners with local animal shelters, creating a safe space where show attendees can interact with dogs in need of adoption. It’s a great program, and if you follow RPM News Weekly, then you know that I adopted a dog at the 2023 NYIAS, and it worked out great for us.
While the dogs may steal your heart, Subaru stole the show when it came to debuts by introducing 3 new vehicles: the refreshed Subaru Solterra, a redesigned Subaru Outback, and the all-new Subaru Trailseeker.
Kia and Hyundai weren’t about to let Subaru have all the fun. Kia made a big splash with the all-new K4 hatchback, the EV9 Nightfall Edition, and the radical 2026 EV4 sedan. While most automakers are stepping away from sedans and scaling back their EV ambitions, Kia doubled down and said, Nah, we’re gonna do both… in one sporty package. It’s not an exaggeration to say that online reviews of the EV4’s styling are mixed, but you certainly can’t accuse Kia of copying anyone else, and Kia’s estimated 330 miles of range and $37,000 price tag are certain to give vehicles like the Tesla Model 3 some serious competition.
The big news on the Hyundai side is the redesign of the brand’s flagship SUV, the Palisade. The new 2026 Palisade fully embraces the rugged SUV trend, especially with the new XRT PRO model, and the bold vertical LED signature lighting up front also brings a splash of high-tech flair to the updated design.
Meanwhile, the introduction of a Palisade Hybrid model is sure to attract show-goers. The hybrid is expected to deliver up to 329 horsepower and an estimated driving range of 619 miles on a full tank of gas. Not bad for a spacious 3-row SUV. Of course, anyone who’s ever traveled with kids knows you’ll never get that far without stopping, but it’s nice to know you could.
INEOS Arrives On The Scene
If you’re like me, you’re probably thinking what the heck is INEOS? I follow the automotive industry pretty closely, but I’ll admit I hadn’t heard of INEOS Automotive until quite recently, when advertisements started popping up on YouTube. So, I was pleasantly surprised to see the new brand at NYIAS. You’ll find their booth outside the main show in the Crystal Palace, not far from where we here at RPM News Weekly saw the Lucid Air debut for the first time back in… 2017. Good Guwd, it’s been eight years already?
If you’re not familiar with INEOS Automotive, here’s a quick rundown: INEOS is a chemical company founded by billionaire chemical engineer and entrepreneur Jim Ratcliffe. He launched INEOS Automotive in 2017 in the aftermath of Land Rover discontinuing the original Defender. The company’s primary model is the Grenadier, which is named after the London pub where Ratcliffe first pitched the idea of starting an automotive brand.
The concept behind the Grenadier was simple: build a true, utilitarian 4×4 that delivers a more analog driving experience. And it looks like they’ve nailed it.
The Grenadier is offered in two body styles: the Station Wagon (yes, they actually call it that) and the 4-door Quartermaster pickup truck.
INEOS has two display areas at the show. At the time I visited, only the Station Wagon was featured in their main booth, which felt like a missed opportunity, because the pickup is genuinely cool. However, you can check it out if you head down to their second display on Level 1.
Lucid Gravity
I can’t mention Lucid without bringing up the Lucid Gravity. While its official debut didn’t take place at NYIAS, it was still a magnet for attention. This was my first time seeing the Gravity in person, and I can confidently say it didn’t disappoint.
The interior is spacious and comfortable, with thoughtful features and impressive tech throughout. On the outside, it’s sleek and looks more like a chopped hot-rod minivan than a rugged off-road explorer. If you’re not into the rugged design trend seen on vehicles like the new Palisade, the Gravity might be right up your alley.
Go for a ride!
As I mentioned, it’s kind of sad to see manufacturers scaling back their footprints at the major auto shows, but one silver lining is having the extra room inside the respective venues to actually show off cars in action. EV cars in particular.
Even though automakers are slowing down their EV investments, thanks in part to the uncertainty surrounding the current “drill baby drill” administration, there were still plenty of tire-squealing, stomach-churning launches to experience at the EV test track. Getting people behind the wheel is one of the best ways to drive EV adoption, and the lineup at the EV Test Track didn’t disappoint. GM made a strong showing with the Chevrolet Blazer EV, Equinox EV, along with Cadillac’s full EV SUV lineup, while Ford brought out the F-150 Lightning and the Mustang Mach-E.
Thanks to GM and Ford, we’ve had a fair amount of seat time in several of their EVs, and we can confidently say they’re worth a look. But there were a few models at the show that we hadn’t yet had the chance to ride in, let alone drive. Standouts include the VW ID. Buzz, the Wagoneer S, and the Dodge Charger Daytona.
Everyone knows the Charger Daytona is a bit controversial. An EV aimed at the muscle car crowd was always going to be a bold move. But after taking a ride, I’ve warmed up to it. If you’re heading out to the show, be sure to take a blast, and let us know what you think.
Camp Jeep
Okay, so an EV muscle car isn’t your thing. How about conquering a 45-degree incline in a 470-horsepower, HEMI-powered 392 Wrangler?
Camp Jeep is a staple of the NYIAS. It’s the first thing you see when you walk up to the Javits Center, and as expected, the site of Jeeps off-roading in the heart of the city always draws a crowd from passersby.
If you’re a Jeep owner or thinking about becoming one, Camp Jeep is a great place to experience what these vehicles are truly capable of. The course puts Jeeps through their paces with tests for ground clearance, traction, stability, articulation, breakover, and off-camber angles. Plus, staring straight up at skyscrapers while climbing a 28-foot “mountain” is a bit of a mind-bending experience.
Ford Bronco Off Roadeo Adventure
Not to be outdone, Ford also has their own Bronco playground, aka demo course. While not as large in scale as Camp Jeep, the Bronco course has its own unique obstacles, including a teeter-totter and a rock crawl obstacle, which highlights how good the Bronco is on rugged terrain.
The 2025 New York International Auto Show runs from April 18th to the 27th at the Javits Convention Center. Check out the NYIAS website for more details.
The calendar may say it’s spring but wintry weather persists here in New England. It’s enough to make me long for the all-weather dependability and cold-weather comforts I came to appreciate while test driving the 2024 Kia Sorento X-Pro SX Prestige back in February. Through cold, snow, rain, slush and gale force winds during seven of winter’s most nasty days, the Sorento confidently persevered while keeping me and my favorite passenger very safe and comfortable.
The test-drive week started on a Wednesday with temperatures right at about the freezing mark. There was some snow in the immediate forecast for that night but the looming threat of a major storm on the weekend dominated the reports. Anyone who knows New England, knows that many winter storms that come through can dump mountains of snow inland, while just a few miles away along the coast there’s nothing but rain or some slushy mix. That’s the worst outcome. Especially since the cold front which typically follows these storms turns everything to ice and ruts.
With the possibility of six to twelve inches of snow coming, a planned trip to upstate New York for the weekend started to take on a different level of decision making. The original itinerary had me and my spouse heading out on Friday, Valentine’s Day, and staying in Sturbridge one night and then proceeding to New York on Saturday afternoon. As Friday approached, it seemed that if our timing was right, the plan would give us just enough of a window to beat driving during the worst of the storm.
However, at the request of our New York hosts, who deemed it too risky, we changed plans. The all-wheel drive Sorento X-Pro SX Prestige notwithstanding, they just didn’t want us to find ourselves winding through treacherous snow laden mountain roads up to their lovely estate and end up being snowbound all weekend to boot.
So, we decided to stay a second night in Sturbridge, which had already seen snow earlier in the week. I felt confident that we could rely on the winter-ready Sorento to get us home the day after that no matter the weather, and anyway, why not just enjoy another day away instead of making our Valentine’s Day weekend getaway a complete bust.
Good call as it turns out. We arrived in Sturbridge late Friday afternoon more or less on schedule having had no issues with the weather or the Sorento enroute. No travel fatigue either. This is an SUV that’s built for comfortable traveling. We called ahead for evening dinner reservations at a place within walking distance of our hotel so the Sorento stayed parked at the hotel for the night. Saying we slipped out later for dinner has some literal truth to it since the walkway over to the restaurant had some treacherous stretches of ice and ruts leftover from the storm earlier in the week. We were more at risk with that bit of travel than with any driving in the Sorento. Fortunately, no falls, and the Valentine’s Day dinner at Avellino was simply superb.
On Saturday morning, we drove over to historic Old Sturbridge Village (a full-on, re-creation of an early 19th century village) to take part in a charming wedding vow renewal ceremony and celebrate 25 years of Valentine’s Days as a married couple. Then, after a delightful afternoon exploring the village we drove to the historic 18th century Publick House Inn to enjoy some snacks in the lounge by the fireside. Fresh snow began to fall just after we parked the Sorento. By the time we headed back the mile or so to our hotel to freshen up before going out to dinner, there was an inch or so of snow already on the ground. The Sorento X-Pro didn’t skip a beat – no slipping going up inclines, no skidding coming to a stop. No complaints either about the heated seats and steering wheel. Happily, they got going full blast quite quickly.
A few hours later, we drove just a little way down the road to catch our reservation at a popular sushi restaurant called Baba Sushi. The snow hadn’t kept the Saturday night dinner crowd away even though it was beginning to pile up. By the time we finished dessert and headed back out into the storm to our vehicle, there was at least four inches of snow on the ground. Still, the Sorento was unfazed. Not once did it give me reason to worry, even up the steep entrance to the hotel parking lot.
In the morning, after clearing the vehicle off, we turned our compass back east while plows set to work all around the snow-filled landscape. At that point, there was six to eight inches on the ground and the precipitation that was coming down was undecided if it was snow, wet snow, sleet or rain.
We made a quick return trip to the Publick House for coffee and danish after finding most places along Route 20 hadn’t shoveled out yet and were closed. Then, with coffees in hand we got back to the Sorento and made our way out to the Mass Turnpike. The main roadways were mostly down to pavement, especially after getting on the pike. A few slushy areas had to be dealt with, but mostly it was a cautiously easy bit of driving as things steadily turned over to rain. I began feeling nostalgic for snow.
But the combo weather did have a few startling moments that let the Sorento shine. The GPS took us down Rt. 146 toward Providence. The mix of snow and rain was causing some drainage issues here and there, so every so often where the roadway had a dip the vehicle would suddenly hit a patch of water a few inches deep causing an instant loss of traction on the left front wheel and a bit of hydroplaning. Fortunately, the Sorento’s ESC (electronic stability control) functioned flawlessly, so while the vehicle briefly tugged a bit to the left, the system kicked in almost immediately preventing the vehicle from veering off into the guardrail.
We reached home in the early afternoon grateful that the weekend hadn’t gone totally awry. For me, having been the driver, there was a sense of satisfaction that I had had an opportunity to drive a vehicle that had performed so completely well under the circumstances, ultimately returning me and my spouse safely to our little village on the shores of Buzzards Bay.
